A first ridden pair up their game, a Scottish producer nets two working hunter
wins and a breeder makes a rare show ring appearance.
PRODUCER Sharn Linney
completed a major native double,
fielding both the open and
mini champions in the form of
Glebedale Mumbo Jumbo and
last year’s supreme pony,
Thistledown Van-Der-Vaart
(Charles) respectively.
Nine National Pony Society/
Baileys ridden classes played
out to a packed grandstand over
two days, giving judges Marilyn
Ludlow and Julia Furness plenty
to consider. However, in the
Andrews Bowen International
Arena on day two, both agreed
that Jumbo, ridden with great
aplomb by Isabella Sharifi — at
just 11, the youngest rider in the
open championship — outshone
the 17 other contestants in a star-
studded finale.
“Our winner was simply
gorgeous,” said Marilyn. “It was
mannerly, went beautifully and
was ridden really well. It never
missed a beat from the minute it
walked into the ring.”
The charming Welsh
section A was also fourth in the
previous day’s Brineton/Kare Plus
first ridden class with jockey
Izzy. Despite a lack of mileage
at the higher level, the pair
successfully stepped up a gear at
only their third open attempt.
“We’ve been concentrating
on first riddens and they’ve had
an amazing season,” said an
overjoyed Sharn, for whom it
was also a first Horse of the Year
Show (HOYS) open ridden win.
“We’re so proud of the pony — he’s
an absolute star and Izzy was
amazing,” she added.
The pair’s first ridden tally
this term includes wins at Royal
Windsor, Royal Three Counties
and Midland Counties, and
the mini Heritage supreme at
the British Show Pony Society
summer championships. It
was a record-breaking fourth
consecutive mini title here for
Charles, though, partnered this
time by Lilly Richardson.
The mini reserve went to
another Thistledown pony —
Holly Levett’s second-placed lead-
rein Thistledown Velvet Touch
— ridden by George Levett, seven,
and led by Katie White, daughter
of producer Lulu Hillyard.
“This is George’s last season in
lead-rein as he’s growing so fast,
so this is a wonderful way to
end the partnership,” said Holly.
“We almost didn’t make it here,
though — we had a run of second
placings and only got through at
the final qualifier.”
‘I FELT A BIT OF
A NOVICE’
THE Stokesley-based Atkinson
family’s home-bred, home-
produced Welsh C stallion
Danwood Llewellyn was reserve,
after Linda Atkinson made a rare
appearance in the ring to land her
first HOYS win.
“Hannah opted to ride our
other pony, so told me to just get
on this one and get in,” said Linda.
“It’s only the third time I’ve been
in the ring this year — I knew the
pony was capable of going well,
but I felt a bit of a novice.”
After having been second here
twice, the Stanfords’ reigning
Royal International (RIHS) pony
supreme, Benbreac Of Croila, was
six marks clear in the Highlands
to post both his and rider Matt
Cooper’s first HOYS win.
“I’ve never managed better
than second with anything,” said
a beaming Matt. “Today, though,
Breac went the best he’s ever gone
so he thoroughly deserved it.”
A 10-year HOYS drought
ended for Emma Boardman when
her eight-year-old Dyfryngwy Sir
Picasso headed the Ds. However,
Emma has been knocking at the
door with a variety of types, ever
since producing the winning
133cm show hunter pony
Springwind Pro-Set in 2008.
Tufy Stockley took the top
Fell/Dales spot on the super-
mannerly Murthwaite Oliver,
now produced by Jill and Lucy
Rushton. Although this was
Tufy’s first native win here, she
is no stranger to the spotlight,
having previously won on 122cm,
133cm and 143cm show hunter
ponies. Due to family illness, her
showing has been limited this
year, but she qualified for HOYS
at the final attempt at Moreton-
in-Marsh.
An eventful journey from Co.
Galway paid of for Robbie Fallon
when he saw his home-bred
Connemara stallion Cashelbay
Rocket — partnered by Ireland-
based showing “newbie” Michael
Harty — post a first HOYS win.
The previous evening, Robbie’s
scheduled flight from Shannon
was grounded an hour after
boarding, but a midnight dash to
Dublin enabled him to catch the
6.30am flight to Birmingham.
“I’d never have got over it if I’d
missed the class,” he maintained.
The handsome nine-year-old
grey divides his time between
Ireland and Oxfordshire-based
Jo Bates, who will partner him
at Olympia.
“Jo’s done an incredible job
with him,” added Robbie. “I can’t
thank her enough.”
Clare Davies’ mannerly roan
Forester, Harvey’s Magic Moment,
gave Lauren Brill a winning
debut in large breed ranks,
having joined her yard just a few
weeks previously.